Brandon Royval calls UFC White House event a “Hunger Games–type” setting

Brandon Royval has offered unusually frank thoughts on the UFC’s upcoming White House event, making it clear that the political backdrop has little impact on his enthusiasm for fighting.

Speaking with reporters, Royval said he isn’t interested in performing in front of high-profile political figures and described the idea as a “Hunger Games–type” environment.

He added that he sees little value in fighting before people who, in his view, may be more focused on betting or status than on the athletes themselves.

While his comments were pointed, they echoed ongoing debates about the UFC’s growing presence in political spaces and the increasing crossover between sports, entertainment, and state events.

Royval, currently 7–4 in the UFC, is preparing to face Manel Kape on December 13. His remarks come as the organization gears up for what is expected to be one of its most publicized cards of the year.

The White House event, planned for this summer, has already generated buzz, with Conor McGregor publicly claiming he will be part of the lineup.

For Royval, however, the spectacle surrounding the venue is secondary; he emphasized that his focus remains on the fight rather than the setting or the figures watching from the front row.